With all the focus on the Common Core these days, students
don't get to do much creative writing. As a writer, this makes me sad. Too many
students think they're awful at writing just because essays are not their thing.
If you're one of those students beating herself up because step-by-step writing
is not your strength, perk up! Here is an activity to get your imagination
going! And....focusing on details may even help you with the essays, too!
This is a fun writing activity one of my teachers did when I
was in school. She had us imagine we were an object and fill in the chart
below. Then, we'd use the details to write about our typical day. At the time,
I chose pencil, so that's what I put in the chart. Check it out!
Life of a Pencil:
What I see: students writing, the SmartBoard, the floor
What I feel: feet trampling over me in the hallway, sweaty
fingers squeezing my skinny body, an awful headache as students erase their
mistakes with my head, pain in my toes as students sharpen me
What I smell: the inside of gym lockers, pizza in the
cafeteria, chewing gum
What I touch: crisp, white paper, messy backpacks full of
sticky things, kids' ears as they put me behind them
What I taste: dust, pencil shavings from the sharpener,
nervousness from all students taking a test
My hopes and dreams: To one day be a pencil on display in a
museum where people can come and admire me
My biggest fear: Being forgotten
Now you try it! What
object would you like to be?
-Margie
